Wendigo

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. Of course, Melanie didn’t know that it had been abandoned or spare a second thought for how strange it was that a single wax candle burned in the window even though there was no one else around. No one other than herself, and her fiance, Nick. Even if she did know, at that point, she might not have cared. Melanie and Nick had been hiking for hours and it was getting dark. With each passing minute, the sun sunk lower in the gloomy winter sky. Her feet hurt. Her legs and fingers were numb from the cold. She was exhausted and angry at herself for insisting they go on the therapist-recommended retreat that lead to the predicament they found themselves in. Possibly even angrier than she was at Nick for cheating on her in the first place.

The couple’s weekend retreat was a disaster from the start. Melanie’s hope that they could repair their relationship was fading as fast as the retreating sunlight. They had only made it halfway up the mountain before the fighting began. Nick had started to complain about how smothered he felt by Melanie’s paranoid clinginess. For a while, she shot back with how condescending he was and how they never did anything fun together. After a time, even their heated conversation began to cool in the frigid air and they walked on in silence.

By lunchtime, they found a fallen tree, dusted off the snow, and stopped for a snack. Their conversation briefly improved over cold sandwiches and carrot sticks held by even colder fingers. The lightened mood only lasted about an hour until Melanie got the sneaking suspicion that they were lost. Nick insisted everything was fine. He insisted that he knew where he was going. After all, he was following the map given to them by their relationship counselor.

But after a few more hours and no signs of life, Melanie’s frustration grew with each new soggy step in the snow.

“Would you at least let me see the map?” Melanie moaned and tried to grab the map from Nick.

“Calm down Mel, we’re going the right way!” Nick scolded and shot her one of his stop acting like a child glares.

Melanie could feel Nick glaring at her as she pressed the tip of her boot into the snow. She pulled her pink beanie down lower over her long dark braids. She wanted to pull it all the way down over her eyes so she didn’t have to see that familiar passive-aggressive smirk.

“Are you sure? Because I could swear we should have seen a cabin by now.” Melanie insisted.

Nick stopped abruptly and shoved the map at Melanie, letting out a sigh of exasperation. Melanie took the map and examined it as Nick waited, flushed with impatience. To her disappointment, she couldn’t see any clear indication of where they might have gone wrong. Melanie shrugged and handed the map back to Nick.

“I told you. We’re going the right way. It’s just a little further. Why can’t you just trust me for once?” Nick refolded the map, then turned and continued walking.

“Trust you? Trust the one I caught texting their ex?” Melanie’s face contorted in disgust. She knew better than to bring it up for the 100th time, but the idea still dug at her.

“Why do you have to be so bitchy all the time, huh? You were the one who wanted to come to this stupid couple’s counseling thing, and ever since we got here, all you’ve done is act like it’s a complete waste of time.”

“I only did it because you were acting weird, and now you’re only angry because you didn’t want me to know that you were talking to Tara.” Melanie felt her cheeks flush against the cold.

Nick took in a big breath as if he was about to shout, but before any words could make it out of his mouth, a tree branch snapped with a crack like breaking bone.

Nick and Melanie fell silent. The two stood listening for a minute or two, but when no additional sounds followed, Nick broke the silence.

“Look, we paid for this trip, let’s just try to have a good day. No more arguing. Okay?”

Melanie remained frozen. She stared off into the distance still looking for the source of the sound. She wasn’t exactly sure why but the intensity of the noise bothered her. It was too loud and too close to be any small woodland creature. A chill crept up her spine as her suspicions proved to be right. A dark, shadowy figure passed behind some trees deep in the forest at the edge of her vision. Melanie turned to alert Nick but noticed he was already a good distance up the path. She burst into a jog to catch up.

But by the time she reached him, Nick had stopped walking. He stood, frozen, staring at a tree in front of them. When Melanie stepped up to where he was standing she saw what grabbed his attention. An odd carving of a rudimentary skull with horns was slashed into the tree. A sloppy drawing that seemed to be carved in a panic, or a hurry.

Nick took out the map and flipped it over to examine some of the text printed on the backside.

“...Before being settled, this area was Penobscot territory. The mountain was believed to be a spiritual ground for the surrounding tribes… Often used as a right of passage for those coming of age, yada yada…” Nick turned the map back over.

“Nothing about a marker?” Melanie looked at him skeptically.

“No. It’s probably nothing…” He reassured. “You can check it if you don’t believe me.”

Nick held the map out for Melanie. She shook her head and sighed, then continued walking. Snow began to fall, further dampening her mood. They continued on, fighting their way through a heavily wooded area. The rapidly falling snow made the trail difficult to see.

They began to pant from exhaustion and their stomachs growled with hunger, but Nick’s stubbornness led them on. Eventually, Melanie stopped altogether to catch her breath. She leaned over and rested her hands on her knees.

“Hey, wait. Hold on a sec.” Melanie said with what little breath she had left. her hand shot out and she pointed into the darkness.

Nick turned to look where she was pointing. He squinted in disbelief. Through the trees in the distance, Nick could make out a dim light coming from a cabin window.

Suddenly, Melanie burst into a fit of laughter.

“What? What’s so funny?” Nick asked, his face still contorted with concern. Once again Melanie pointed and Nick’s eyes followed in the direction of her finger. A clear yellow marker was hammered into the tree marking the path to the cabin.

“We were on the wrong trail, I told you!” Melanie gloated.

Nick frowned. “Whatever, let’s just get there.” Nick started in a B-line for the cabin, ignoring the trail.

Of course, neither one of them stopped to consider how odd it was that there was a candle burning and seemingly no one around. They were both so relieved to see signs of life and eager to get out of the snow…

As Nick and Melanie neared the cabin, Melanie’s mind filled with doubts when she gazed upon its shabby exterior, but she was too tired and too cold to say anything about it.

Nick also began feeling wary but he didn’t want to admit it to Melanie. He was also drained from the cold, the long hike, and their off-and-on-again arguing. When they got to the door, Nick pushed it open and they stepped inside the one-room cabin.

Other than the lone candle, there was little evidence of anyone being there recently. Through the dim light, he could make out one shabby cot made up in the corner, a small pot-bellied stove, and a round table with two rickety wooden chairs. Time had not been kind to the little cabin.

“Are you sure this is right? It’s a lot less glamorous than in the brochure.” Melanie traced a finger across the dust-covered table.

“That’s just a marketing ploy, the rooms never look as good in person.’ Nick slowly walked over to inspect the fireplace.

“I dunno, this is taking false advertising to a whole new level. You know, I saw something in the woods. What if this is the wrong cabin? What if someone is already staying here?” Melanie bounced up and down on the rickety bed. The old spring mattress made a grating squeaking noise.

“Stop.” Nick demanded. “You’re always so paranoid. Clearly, they wanted us to stay here, why else would they leave a candle burning for us to see?

“Who’s they?” Melanie stopped bouncing and glared at him.

“I dunno, your counseling people. The people who organized this god-forsaken trip.” Nick shrugged. “Besides, do you really want to go back out there and look for a different cabin in the dark?”

“Fine.” Melanie huffed. “We’ll stay the night. But, if anyone shows up here and it turns out I’m right, I’m done!” She peeled off her boots and tossed them towards the door. “You can walk your ass the rest of the way up that mountain by yourself!”

Tired, cold, and annoyed, Melanie pulled back the shabby blankets and slipped her legs between them. She laid on the cot in angry silence as Nick went out to gather up some wood to make a fire. While he was out she checked her cellphone for service. No luck.

When Nick returned she turned away from him and pretend to be asleep. She listened to him struggle to light the damp wood. Eventually, he gave up and crawled into bed beside her. As angry as they were with each other and the situation, they were both glad for each other’s warmth and soon fell asleep.

A few hours later Melanie woke with a start. She sat up abruptly and drew the covers closer, listening in total darkness. Her heart began to pound in her chest when she heard something running across the roof of the cabin.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

The sound moved quickly but was too loud and too far apart to be any animal Melanie could think of. She reached out her hand to shake Nick gently by the shoulder but froze in fear as the sound repeated.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

Melanie drew in a quick gasp. She wanted to scream but she was too afraid to.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

“Babe!” She whispered as loudly as she dared. “Babe, did you hear that?” Melanie reached out for Nick but felt nothing. She glanced over and realized to her horror that he was no longer beside her.

“...Nick?” She whispered a little louder. She felt like crying. She wasn’t sure what to do. She wanted to hide under the covers until the noise stopped. Mustering all her courage Melanie rose from the bed and looked about the cabin in the dim light.

“Nick?” She hissed, but no one answered.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

The footsteps came again, this time even louder.

“Nick… Is that you?” Melanie asked the darkness, praying for him to respond.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

The sound moved to the backside of the cabin and something landed with a loud thud just outside the window.

Melanie let out a startled yelp, then covered her mouth with her hand and cautiously moved closer to the window. With shaky fingers, she reached for the tattered curtain and hesitantly began to pull it open. Fear tingled its way up her spine with such intensity that she could no longer stand it. So with one swift movement, she ripped the curtain open.

Nothing.

Melanie stared into the dark woods beyond the thin glass pane. Realizing that there was nothing there, she began to relax. But just as she moved away from the window, a shadowy figure moved near the edge of the treeline. She stared, frozen with fear. And what she saw, stared back.

Through the darkness, contrasted against the pure white snow stood a creature. Everything about it was hauntingly familiar, and yet, unlike anything Melanie had ever seen. Glowing orange eyes peered out from a thin, skeletal face. It had long arms and massive hands with sharp claws dangling at the end of each boney finger. Horns sprouted from its head and branched out like dead tree branches. Terrified, but more afraid to look away, Melanie stared back at the creature, unblinking, until the door of the cabin burst open.

Melanie jumped and screamed. To her surprise, she saw Nick, and not some terrible woodland demon.

“Shit, you scared me!” Nick exclaimed and entered the room, stamping the snow off his boots. “What are you doing up?” He said as he started stripping off his jacket.

“Jesus Christ, Nick. Where did you go?” Melanie asked, still clutching her chest to keep her heart from exploding out of it.

“I went to find an outhouse or some kind of bathroom.” Nick shook his head. “Looks like we’re out of luck.”

“Nick, there’s something out there. I think we should leave.”

“Oh my god, again? I was out there, Melanie. Just go back to bed.”

“No, I swear! There was something in the woods, some crazy creature– it was on the roof! I woke up because I heard footsteps on the roof and then I looked out the window and then…” Melanie moved back to the window and peered out at the treeline.

Nick watched her curiously.

“Someone was there… Was there someone with you outside?” Melanie stared at him suspiciously.

“What?” Nick scoffed.

“I swear to God! Nick, if I find out this was somebody else’s cabin and you’re not telling me because of what I said earlier… I will be a lot angrier than if you just tell me the truth now!”

“Babe, I don’t know what you are talking about.” Completely baffled, Nick let out a burst of nervous laughter. “No one was with me outside.”

Just as Nick began to worry about Melanie’s sanity, a strange noise interrupted their conversation.

Scraaaaaaaatch! Scraaaaaaaaaatch!

This time, they both froze.

Scraaaaaaaatch! Scraaaaaaaaaatch!

The sound moved around the outside of the cabin, scratching the walls, circling them in.

Nick and Melanie drew together in fear.

Scaaaaaaaaaatch! Scraaaaaaatch, Thud!

Melanie looked at Nick pleadingly.

“Will you go check?” She asked, her eyes watery with fright.

“What? Are you crazy?” Nick shook his head.

Scraaaaaaaaaatch! Scraaaaaaaatch! Scraaaaaaaaaatch!

The noise started again.

“Please?” Melanie squeezed Nick’s arm tighter.

Reluctantly, Nick nodded. He slowly, carefully, walked over to the fireplace and picked up a medium-sized branch.

Scraaaaaaaaaaaatch!

The noise made its way to the door, becoming louder as it went. Nick felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as he neared the door. The scratching intensified as he slowly turned the handle. He raised the branch above his head and pushed the door open. Fueled by adrenaline, he jumped forward and swung the branch.

Nothing.

Nick found himself standing outside in the silent snowfall swinging his branch at nothing but snowflakes. Humiliated, he lowered the branch and walked back inside.

“Well?” Melanie asked, her eyes still filled with intense fear.

“There’s no one there. Probably just a raccoon or something.” Nick shook his head and took a seat in one of the rickety chairs.

“No! There was a… A creature, I saw it! Please, Nick, you have to check again!”

“You’re starting to make me feel crazy… Let’s just try to get some rest. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“Rest? How the hell can you even think about sleep after that! I’m going to stay up, just in case.” Melanie stayed nervously in place.

“Fine.” Nick sighed. “ Suit yourself. But you’re gonna be exhausted tomorrow.”

Melanie watched helplessly as Nick tucked himself back into bed, turned over, and eventually began to snore. She had no desire to sleep. She knew laying in bed listening for strange sounds would make her even more paranoid. Hours ticked by as Melanie fiddled with her phone until it eventually died. From her perch by the fire, she looked about the room, to her disappointment she saw no outlets to plug in her charger. Frustrated, cold, and tired, she wrapped one of the old blankets from the bed around herself and eventually fell asleep in the chair by the fire.

In the early hours just before dawn, the door of the cabin creaked open. A cold rush of air swept through the dark, quiet room. Melanie stirred as the chill reached her. She shivered and pulled the blanket tighter. The floorboards creaked, and Melanie began to wake. In her half-asleep state, she sensed the presence of someone beside her. A shadow crept crossed her closed eyelids. Her eyes popped open. To her surprise Nick was standing in front of her, carefully balancing on his feet, with the branch between his hands, raised, and ready to strike. Melanie’s eyes widened and a scream rose to her lips but she held it back.

Nick raised a hand signaling her not to move.

Melanie noticed he was looking at something behind her. She turned around. This time, there was no holding it back. Melanie screamed.

Behind her stood the hideous creature. It was mostly black with dirty, matted fur, long arms, and razor-sharp claws. Between its fur, twigs and branches jutted from its head and antler-like horns nearly brushed the ceiling. Worst of all was its face. It had no face. Instead, the creature’s bone-white skull was exposed. Its mouth hung loose. Sharp fangs dripped with blood and drool and gave off a horrible stench as the creature growled.

Nick took a swing at the creature’s face.

The creature managed to block the blow with its massive arms.

Melanie jumped from the chair.

“Run!” Nick shouted to Melanie, keeping his eyes fixed on the creature.

Melanie hesitated for a moment, not wanting to leave Nick. But as the creature moved closer, she sprinted for the door. Grabbing her boots, she ran out of the cabin.

Melanie wrestled her way through the deep snow outside. She could hear the sounds of a struggle behind her but she was too frightened to look back. With no weapon to fight or defend herself, she figured a better option might be to go get help as quickly as possible. So she ran as fast as she could manage in the direction of the trail.

Back in the cabin, Nick struggled under the creature that had him pinned on the floor. The creature emitted the strange guttural growl as its face came parallel with his. Blood dripped from its fangs onto his cheek, just below his eye. Nick pushed with all his strength and managed to shove the creature off. It landed with a hard thud against the wall. He tried to push himself to his feet but the creature was faster.

With one swift moment, the creature knocked Nick on the side of his head with the back of its heavy hand. The blow landed hard with a crack like bone hitting pavement.

Nick collapsed onto his stomach, unconscious.

A short while later, bright sunlight streamed in through the cabin windows and warmed Nick’s face as he lay motionless on the floor. Eventually, his eyes began to blink open. Moaning in pain, he clutched his head and staggered to his feet.

“Mel?” Nick called out weakly. When his vision cleared he grabbed his boots and made a half-assed attempt to put them on. Then he grabbed his jacket and made his way out the door, periodically bringing his hand to his head to steady himself and ease the pain. He staggered through the snow, following the footsteps of Melanie and the creature. Drops of bright red blood dotted the snow alongside the tracks, leading in the direction they went.

“Melanie?” Nick shouted and started to run. With each step, his heart beat faster. It was clear the monster had also followed her footsteps. “Mel?” He shouted again and again until his throat became dry. By the time he reached the main trail, his voice was weak and choked with tears. The amount of blood along the trail increased with each step forward. “Mel?” His voice cracked and he dropped to his knees.

There on the trail in front of him lay Melanie’s crumpled body.

“Babe?” He cried and crawled towards her. Melanie’s clothes were torn open and covered in blood. The dark liquid soaked the snow around her where she lay. “Melanie, baby?” Nick began to sob as he crept forward and caressed her face. Her eyes were fixed open in an expression of fright. Suddenly he heard a rustling noise coming from the nearby trees. Though reluctant to leave Melanie, he sprang to his feet and rushed off down the trail, shouting for help.

The rustling noise became louder as it neared Melanie’s body. A shadow crossed over her still figure. The creature stood over her body and growled for a moment before heading off, back in the direction of the cabin.

The creature tramped through the snow with heavy footsteps until it made it back to the door of the now deserted cabin. With a heavy hand, it pushed the door open, its claws dug into the wood as it stepped in. The creature stomped over to the fireplace and pulled the knocked-over chair upright, then took a seat. It kicked out its legs and got comfortable. It sat panting for a few minutes, then reached one of its long arms up to its head, and pulled it off.

Piece by piece the creature came apart as the woman inside started to remove it and place each piece into the fire once she’d stripped them from her body. When she was done, all that was left was an attractive woman in her early 30s. She looked more like a woman who just finished a yoga class than a woman who just finished killing her ex's finance.

To this day, no one knows what happened to the creature that killed Melanie.

No one except Nick’s wife, Tara.